Research Article
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Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography

Year 2026, Volume: 53 Issue: 1, 109 - 115, 10.03.2026
https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906461
https://izlik.org/JA84PE28MJ

Abstract

Objectives: Oncologic imaging, suspected intestinal leaks, fistulas, abscesses and collections, abdominal pain, and computed tomography colonography are the indications for the use of oral contrast media. The distal colon and rectum opacification is not always achieved with the standard technique in routine studies. Our aim is to compare the effect of 1.5-hour vs. 4-6-hour contrast media ingestion durations on distal colon and rectum opacification in abdominal computed tomography.
Methods: Adult patients in the year of 2023 were retrospectively grouped: those with a 4-6 hour contrast media ingestion duration (study group) and age- and sex-matched patients with a 1.5 hour contrast media ingestion duration (control group). After exclusions, there were 200 patients in total. Groups were evaluated for the association between contrast media ingestion durations and the most distal bowel segment opacified.
Results: Results showed a significant association between contrast material ingestion duration and the most distal opacified bowel segment (p<0.001). The contrast reached the rectum in 37% of the 1.5-hour group and 67% of the 4-6 hour group. Sex also affected opacification, with men having more distal bowel opacification (p=0.017).
Conclusions: Longer contrast media ingestion durations lead to almost 1.5-2 times more distal colon and rectum opacification, which could be adjusted based on suspected pathology location, though longer durations may reduce patient compliance.

Ethical Statement

This study is executed in Kırklareli Training and Research Hospital after the approval of Kırklareli University Ethics Committee for Non-interventional Clinical Studies (30.01.2024 / P20240003-03) on adult patients.

References

  • 1.Basile J, Kenny JF, Khodorkovsky B, et al. Effects ofeliminating routine use of oral contrast forcomputed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis: Apilot study. Clin Imaging 2018; 49: 159–62.
  • 2.ACR Manual on Contrast Media [Internet].American College of Radiology; 2024. Availablefrom: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Clinical-Resources/Contrast_Media.pdf
  • 3.Friedrich JM, Skinningsrud K, Welter C, Eide H,Merkle E. Oral administration of iopentol(Imagopaque 300 mg I/ml) compared withamidotrizoate (Peritrast 300 mg I/ml), both dilutedto 2% (v/v), in imaging of the gastrointestinal tractin abdominal contrast enhanced CT. A clinical trialassessing patient tolerance, distribution of contrastmedium and Hounsfield unit measurements. EurRadiol 1997; 7 Suppl 4: 140-4.
  • 4.Hanna TN, Streicher DA, Razavi SA, et al. EntericDistribution of Oral Contrast in EmergencyDepartment Patients Undergoing Abdominal-PelvicComputed Tomography. Can Assoc Radiol J 2016;67(3): 204–11.
  • 5.Kielar A, Macdonald B, Krishna S. Use of OralContrast in Abdominal/Pelvic CT Scans. Can AssocRadiol J 2021; 72(3): 339–40.
  • 6.Kostak Ö. Abdomen Bilgisayarlı TomografilerindeOral Kontrast Madde İçme Süresinin Kalın BağırsakKontrast Dolumuna Etkisi [Internet]. 17. UlusalRadyoteknoloji Kongresi ve Eğitim Seminerleri;2023 Apr 27. Available from: http://www.tmrtder.org.tr/2023/docs/bildiri.pdf?a=7485
  • 7.Triche BL, Annamalai A, Pooler BD, et al. Positiveoral contrast material for CT evaluation of non-traumatic abdominal pain in the ED: prospectiveassessment of diagnostic confidence and throughputmetrics. Abdom Radiol 2022; 47(8): 2956–67.
  • 8.Pickhardt PJ. Positive Oral Contrast Material forAbdominal CT: Current Clinical Indications andAreas of Controversy. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2020;215(1): 69–78.
  • 9.Kessner R, Barnes S, Halpern P, Makrin V, BlacharA.CT for Acute Nontraumatic Abdominal Pain—IsOral Contrast Really Required? Academic Radiology2017; 24(7): 840–5.
  • 10.Yu Q, Liu J. The diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging fordetection of colorectal tumors: A meta-analysis. J Cancer Res Ther 2016; 12(Supplement): C241–3.
  • 11.Laituri CA, Fraser JD, Aguayo P, et al. The Lack ofEfficacy for Oral Contrast in the Diagnosis ofAppendicitis by Computed Tomography. Journal ofSurgical Research 2011; 170(1): 100–3.
  • 12.Schuur JD, Chu G, Sucov A. Effect of oral contrastfor abdominal computed tomography on emergencydepartment length of stay. Emerg Radiol 2010;17(4): 267–73.
  • 13.Hebert JJ, Taylor AJ, Winter TC. Comparison ofcolonic transit between polyethylene glycol andwater as oral contrast vehicles in the CT evaluationof acute appendicitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2006;187(5): 1188–91.
  • 14.Buhmann S, Kirchhoff C, Ladurner R, et al.Assessment of colonic transit time using MRI: afeasibility study. Eur Radiol 2007; 17(3): 669–74.

Abdominal Bilgisayarlı Tomografi İncelemelerinde Oral Kontrast Madde İçme Süresinin Distal Kolon ve Rektum Opasifikasyonu Üzerindeki Etkisi

Year 2026, Volume: 53 Issue: 1, 109 - 115, 10.03.2026
https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906461
https://izlik.org/JA84PE28MJ

Abstract

Amaç: Oral kontrast madde endikasyonları olarak, onkolojik görüntüleme, şüpheli bağırsak kaçakları, fistüller, abse ve koleksiyonlar, karın ağrısı ve bilgisayarlı tomografi (BT) kolonoskopi sayılabilir. Standart kontrast içme sürelerinde rutin tetkiklerde distal kolon ve rektum opaklaşması her zaman sağlanamamaktadır. Amacımız, abdominal BT’de 1,5 saatlik ve 4–6 saatlik kontrast madde içme süresinin distal kolon ve rektum opaklaşması üzerine etkisini değerlendirmektir.
Yöntemler: 2023 yılında oral kontrastlı abdomen BT’si olan yetişkin hastalar retrospektif, 4–6 saatlik (çalışma grubu) ve yaş-cinsiyet olarak eşleştirilmiş 1,5 saatlik (kontrol grubu) kontrast madde içme süresine sahip olanlar olarak iki gruba ayrıldı. Dışlama kriterleri uygulandıktan sonra toplamda 200 hasta kalmıştır. Gruplar, kontrast madde içme süreleri ile opaklaşan en distal bağırsak segmenti arasındaki ilişki yönünden değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Kontrast madde içme süresi ile opaklaşan en distal bağırsak segmenti arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulundu (p<0,001). 1,5 saatlik grubun %37’sinde kontrast rektuma ulaşırken, 4–6 saatlik grubun %67’sinde ulaştı. Ayrıca, erkek hastalarda kontrast maddenin aynı sürede, daha distal bağırsağa ulaştığı (p=0,017) gözlendi.
Sonuç: Daha uzun kontrast madde içme süreleri, patolojinin şüphelenildiği bağırsak segmentine göre seçilerek yaklaşık 1,5–2 kat daha çok hastada distal kolon ve rektum opaklaşması elde edilebilir. Fakat uzun kontrast madde içme sürelerinin hasta uyumunu azaltabileceği göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır.

References

  • 1.Basile J, Kenny JF, Khodorkovsky B, et al. Effects ofeliminating routine use of oral contrast forcomputed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis: Apilot study. Clin Imaging 2018; 49: 159–62.
  • 2.ACR Manual on Contrast Media [Internet].American College of Radiology; 2024. Availablefrom: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Clinical-Resources/Contrast_Media.pdf
  • 3.Friedrich JM, Skinningsrud K, Welter C, Eide H,Merkle E. Oral administration of iopentol(Imagopaque 300 mg I/ml) compared withamidotrizoate (Peritrast 300 mg I/ml), both dilutedto 2% (v/v), in imaging of the gastrointestinal tractin abdominal contrast enhanced CT. A clinical trialassessing patient tolerance, distribution of contrastmedium and Hounsfield unit measurements. EurRadiol 1997; 7 Suppl 4: 140-4.
  • 4.Hanna TN, Streicher DA, Razavi SA, et al. EntericDistribution of Oral Contrast in EmergencyDepartment Patients Undergoing Abdominal-PelvicComputed Tomography. Can Assoc Radiol J 2016;67(3): 204–11.
  • 5.Kielar A, Macdonald B, Krishna S. Use of OralContrast in Abdominal/Pelvic CT Scans. Can AssocRadiol J 2021; 72(3): 339–40.
  • 6.Kostak Ö. Abdomen Bilgisayarlı TomografilerindeOral Kontrast Madde İçme Süresinin Kalın BağırsakKontrast Dolumuna Etkisi [Internet]. 17. UlusalRadyoteknoloji Kongresi ve Eğitim Seminerleri;2023 Apr 27. Available from: http://www.tmrtder.org.tr/2023/docs/bildiri.pdf?a=7485
  • 7.Triche BL, Annamalai A, Pooler BD, et al. Positiveoral contrast material for CT evaluation of non-traumatic abdominal pain in the ED: prospectiveassessment of diagnostic confidence and throughputmetrics. Abdom Radiol 2022; 47(8): 2956–67.
  • 8.Pickhardt PJ. Positive Oral Contrast Material forAbdominal CT: Current Clinical Indications andAreas of Controversy. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2020;215(1): 69–78.
  • 9.Kessner R, Barnes S, Halpern P, Makrin V, BlacharA.CT for Acute Nontraumatic Abdominal Pain—IsOral Contrast Really Required? Academic Radiology2017; 24(7): 840–5.
  • 10.Yu Q, Liu J. The diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging fordetection of colorectal tumors: A meta-analysis. J Cancer Res Ther 2016; 12(Supplement): C241–3.
  • 11.Laituri CA, Fraser JD, Aguayo P, et al. The Lack ofEfficacy for Oral Contrast in the Diagnosis ofAppendicitis by Computed Tomography. Journal ofSurgical Research 2011; 170(1): 100–3.
  • 12.Schuur JD, Chu G, Sucov A. Effect of oral contrastfor abdominal computed tomography on emergencydepartment length of stay. Emerg Radiol 2010;17(4): 267–73.
  • 13.Hebert JJ, Taylor AJ, Winter TC. Comparison ofcolonic transit between polyethylene glycol andwater as oral contrast vehicles in the CT evaluationof acute appendicitis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2006;187(5): 1188–91.
  • 14.Buhmann S, Kirchhoff C, Ladurner R, et al.Assessment of colonic transit time using MRI: afeasibility study. Eur Radiol 2007; 17(3): 669–74.
There are 14 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Health Care Administration, Medical Education, Health Services and Systems (Other)
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Atakan Küskün

Halis Harun Öztürk This is me

Muzaffer Savaş Tepe

Burak Günay

Efehan Ulaş

Ömer Kostak

Submission Date August 12, 2025
Acceptance Date February 18, 2026
Publication Date March 10, 2026
DOI https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906461
IZ https://izlik.org/JA84PE28MJ
Published in Issue Year 2026 Volume: 53 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Küskün, A., Öztürk, H. H., Tepe, M. S., Günay, B., Ulaş, E., & Kostak, Ö. (2026). Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography. Dicle Medical Journal, 53(1), 109-115. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906461
AMA 1.Küskün A, Öztürk HH, Tepe MS, Günay B, Ulaş E, Kostak Ö. Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026;53(1):109-115. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1906461
Chicago Küskün, Atakan, Halis Harun Öztürk, Muzaffer Savaş Tepe, Burak Günay, Efehan Ulaş, and Ömer Kostak. 2026. “Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography”. Dicle Medical Journal 53 (1): 109-15. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906461.
EndNote Küskün A, Öztürk HH, Tepe MS, Günay B, Ulaş E, Kostak Ö (March 1, 2026) Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography. Dicle Medical Journal 53 1 109–115.
IEEE [1]A. Küskün, H. H. Öztürk, M. S. Tepe, B. Günay, E. Ulaş, and Ö. Kostak, “Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography”, Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 53, no. 1, pp. 109–115, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.5798/dicletip.1906461.
ISNAD Küskün, Atakan - Öztürk, Halis Harun - Tepe, Muzaffer Savaş - Günay, Burak - Ulaş, Efehan - Kostak, Ömer. “Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography”. Dicle Medical Journal 53/1 (March 1, 2026): 109-115. https://doi.org/10.5798/dicletip.1906461.
JAMA 1.Küskün A, Öztürk HH, Tepe MS, Günay B, Ulaş E, Kostak Ö. Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026;53:109–115.
MLA Küskün, Atakan, et al. “Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography”. Dicle Medical Journal, vol. 53, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 109-15, doi:10.5798/dicletip.1906461.
Vancouver 1.Atakan Küskün, Halis Harun Öztürk, Muzaffer Savaş Tepe, Burak Günay, Efehan Ulaş, Ömer Kostak. Impact of Oral Contrast Ingestion Duration on Distal Colon and Rectum Opacification in Abdominal Computed Tomography. Dicle Medical Journal. 2026 Mar. 1;53(1):109-15. doi:10.5798/dicletip.1906461